N
normanguitar
New member
I'm posting this to get some feedback and also maybe to help someone else who's in my position. I started the upgrade Preamp + Microphone search about a month ago and I'm slowly narrowing it down. I have a Digi 002 and I'm currently using the inboard 002 pre's with SM57s and AKG C1000s. 70% of the time I'm recording acoustic guitar and vocals and the rest is a mix of piano and other random stuff. My current top choice for pre is Focusrite ISA 428. I like the 428 because it's 4 preamps, variable impedence, has digital output option, and price. I huge part of this preference is the digital option. I don't want to spend a ton of money on a preamp and have my weak link be the 002s A/D converters. From what I've read, the 428s A/D converters will be better than the 002s. And even though there are only 4 preamps, there is still room for 4 more channels of conversion so I can upgrade preamps again later and still use the Focusrite converters. I don't think I'll be able to break $2k for the preamp+A/D conversion and I can't find anything that beats 4 nice Pre's and 8 channels of conversion for that price. It seems that some elitists prefer some names that aren't as well known but I think if it's good enough for Sting, it's definitely good enough for me.
Now on to microphones. My SM57s are awesome as always but I've grown out of my AKG C1000 and I want a real workhorse condenser for acoustics and vocals. I'm inbetween the AKG 414 and Neumann TLM 103. I like the versatility of the AKG's multiple patterns but I also like what the 103 can do for a vocal sound. Price is not really a part of the competition because of the ebay equalizer. Anyone have any other ideas? I hear good things about Audio Technica. I also don't have much of a preference on color or transparency. I realize the preamp is part of this equation. My philosophy is, if it sounds good in the room then you can't be wrong with transparent.
I guess I'm posting all this to say, does my thinking make any sense? Hopefully this could help out somebody else in the same position and at the very least, it's always fun to talk about right? Thanks.
Now on to microphones. My SM57s are awesome as always but I've grown out of my AKG C1000 and I want a real workhorse condenser for acoustics and vocals. I'm inbetween the AKG 414 and Neumann TLM 103. I like the versatility of the AKG's multiple patterns but I also like what the 103 can do for a vocal sound. Price is not really a part of the competition because of the ebay equalizer. Anyone have any other ideas? I hear good things about Audio Technica. I also don't have much of a preference on color or transparency. I realize the preamp is part of this equation. My philosophy is, if it sounds good in the room then you can't be wrong with transparent.
I guess I'm posting all this to say, does my thinking make any sense? Hopefully this could help out somebody else in the same position and at the very least, it's always fun to talk about right? Thanks.